Needle holding means for pickup



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Sept. 21, 1954 Filed June 8, 1949 D. J. MUNROE 2,689,737

NEEDLE HOLDING MEANS FOR PICKUP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m his IN V EN TOR.

flag/id J M 22/727126, M, Muzak Sept. 21, 1954 D. J. MUNROE 2,689,737

NEEDLE HOLDING MEANS FOR PICKUP Filed June 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15420 62 n 7 7 Z E 7 "u" 32 film-"1 Q. L 15 7g 93 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 NEEDLE HOLDING MEANS FOR PICKUP David J. Munroe,Racine, Wis., assignor to Webster Electric Company, Racine, Wis., acorporation of Delaware Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,809

12 Claims. (01. 27437) The present invention relates to a pickup and hasfor one of its primary objects the provision of a new and improvedreproducer or pickup adapted especially for the reproduction of sound.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved pickup charac terized by novel stylus or needle holding means.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved multiple needle pickup in which the needles are selectivelyusable for the reproduction of sound from difierent types of records,such as conventional and long playing records.

In brief, the pickup of the present invention includes a housinsurrounding a transducer of suitable construction e. g., of the crystaltype, and from the interior of which there projects a plurality ofneedles for playing different types of records. The needles aredetachably secured to a needle chuck also mounted within the housing andoperatively connected to the transducer, the chuck being constructed soas to permit easy and certain insertion of the needles into properpositions in the chuck as well as holding them in position. For this,the chuck is provided with an aperture into which is placed a needlepositioning and holding element structurally correlated with the needlesso that the latter are readily insertable only into their proper places.The arrangement is also such that a single needle securing screw can beused for holding the needles.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description of an illustrative embodimentthereof, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. l is an enlarged top plan view of a pickup constructed inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken along theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross sectional view, partlyin section, better illustrating the details of construction of theneedle hold ing means;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal cross sectional view taken along theline 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4-A is a fragmentary further enlarged view similar to Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view;

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view of the shank of theconventional playing needle;

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross sectional view of the shank of the longplaying needle;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a needle locating and holdingelement forming part of the needle holding means of the presentinvention. The view illustrates the element in an intermediate stageobtaining before it is securedto the chuck;

Fig. 9 is across sectional view illustrating a resilient positionin andholding tongue, the view being taken along the line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the chuck illustratingit prior to insertion of the needle holding element therein.

Referring now to the drawings, it may be noted that the pickup, which isindicated generally by the reference character if) comprises a housingI2 includin like opposed portions l4 and It secured together in suitablemanner as by rivets IS. The housing portions can be stamped from metalor molded from some suitable plastic material.

The pickup illustrated is of the multiple needle type for playingrecords of different types such as conventional and long playingrecords. It includes a needleZl'l for playing conventional records and aneedle 22 for playing the long playing records. These needles may be anydesired construction, as illustrated, needle 20 includes a shank 24 andneedle 22 includes a shank 26, the shanks being secured to the remainderof the needle structure in a desired manner, as by soldering, welding orswaging. The shanks however are of novel construction to facilitatelocation, as will be pointed out in detail hereinafter.

The needles project beyond the housing through apertures 21 therein sothat they may be selectively positioned to engage a record. According toone arrangement the pickup can be supported for rotation in a tone arm(not shown) along its longitudinal axis so that one or the other of theneedles extends downwardly for engagement with a record placed on aturntable. The means for rotatably securing the pickup includes theforwardly extending structure 28 having a bifurcated end 32 secured tothe housing by the rivets H3. The rear end of the cartridge is adaptedrotatably to be supported by means not shown, but which may be like thatdisclosed in the co-pending application of Clarence F. Jensen, SerialNo. 82,315, filed March 19, 1949, now abandoned.

A suitable electro-mechanical transducer 32, which is illustrated asbeing of the twister crystal type, but which may be of other types, ismounted within the housing for actuation by one or the other of theneedles through a needle; holding chuck 34 provided with spaced clampingjaws 36 at one end adapted to embrace and to be secured to thetransducer. A dampingstrip 38 can be placed between jaws and crystal.

The chuck is movably supported within the housing for limited torsionalmovement about its longitudinal axis. It is so supported by spacedtrunnions 39 and 30 in rubber bearings 4i and 42 which are held, incompression by restricted portions 44 and 33, respectively, of thehousing sections.

The electrical connection to the crystal is mad-e through the terminals50 secured to the rear end of the housing and connected by conductors 52to the crystal. The conductors are insulated from the casing byinsulating strips 54.

In accordance with the present invention, the needles are detachablysecured in the chuck in a novel manner so that they can be readilyreplaced and by a structure and arrangement that is simple andinexpensive and also light.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 9, the needleholding means .of the present invention includes, in the main, a needlelocating and holding element 60 adapted to be inserted into an aperture62 in the portion of the chuck between the trunnions and substantiallyaligned with the openings 27 in the housing through which the needlesproject. The element is constructed and arranged relative to the chuckso as to provide spaced openings for reception of the needles, toprovide stops for needle location, to provide means resiliently holdingat least one needle, and to enable a single securing screw to hold twoneedles in the chuck.

The locating and holding element 60 is readily stamped from somesuitable material, preferably resilient, such as beryllium copper .012inch thick. In the manufacturing of this element, thereis formed alongitudinally extending tongue 66 which is generally V-s'haped in crossection, as illustrated in Fig. 9. One end of the element is bent atright angles to the main part to provide a transversely extending flange68 adapted to project over the flat surface 10 at one side of the chuck.The aperture 62 is provided with opposed slots 12 to facilitateinsertion of the element in the aperture so that the flange 68 will abutagainst the surface l0 and to permit some movement of the elementlengthwise of the aperture. After insertion the opposite end of theelement is bent over as indicated by the reference character 14 to abutagainst the opposite flat surface on the chuck. The element is insertedso that the tongue projects rearwardly of the pickup housing.

The element 60 acts as a locating and holding means for the needles. Theflange portions 68 and M act as stops limiting the movement of theneedle shanks when the needles are inserted into the chuck. The tongue66 is convex in back in order to cooperate with a generally V-shapedgroove 78 in the shank 24 of the conventional needle 20, thereby toindicate to the user that this needle is properly located when it isplaced into the chuck in cooperative relationship with the tongue. Thetongue also resiliently holds the shank and needle 20 when the needle isinserted into place so that it need not be held while the other needleis being inserted. The other shank 26 is provided with a flat surface 80to cooperate with the fiat end surface 32 of the opening 62 in theneedle chuck. The back side of the shank is circular and rests in theconcave front of the tongue 66 and the back of shank 2'4 abuts againstthe vertical slot 83 for better positioning and holding of the needleswhen a securing screw 84,

having threaded engagement with an internal opening 86 at the forwardend of the chuck, is turned positively to hold both needles in thechuck.

Damage to the needles by the application of excess pressure to the tonearm is prevented by the opposed arms 96 which are of generally Uconfiguration, as best illustrated in'Fig. 5. The bights are reverselybent slightly, as indicated by reference character 92, in line with theneedles. The protecting structures are secured to the housing by therivets 94.

From the foregoing detailed description of the invention it is apparentthat the pickup of the present invention is simple and inexpensive toconstruct and that it provides a light and otherwise very satisfactorymeans for detachably and yet securely fastening needles to the chuck. Inconstruction, the chuck is constructed with aperture E2, the needlelocating and holding element is 60 stamped with the tongue 66 and flange68. The element is then inserted into the opening '62 and in alignmentwith the slots 12 and the flange 14 bent over to secure the element tothe chuck. The cartridge is then assembled in the usualmanher and madeready for reception of the needles 2D and 22. The former is firstinserted because it can be inserted readily into its place with itsgroove 1'8 abutting against the tongue 66, whereby it is held in place.Needle 22 is then inserted so that its flat side abuts against flat side82 of the aperture and screw 86 is. turned until both needles aresecured positively in the chuck. The slots 12 are somewhat wider thanthe thickness of the holding element in order that the latter may havesome longitudinal movement, whereby the securing screw .84 is effectiveto hold both needles, it acting on the rear needle shank 24 through thetongue 66 and the front needle shank 25,.

While the present invention has been described in connection withspecific detail of an illustrative embodiment it should be understoodthat these details are not intended to be limitative of the inventionexcept insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure .by United States Letters Patent is: v

1. A pickup chuck including needle holdin structure defining needleshank receiving openings spaced longitudinally of the chuck andincluding a resilient portion between said openings normally projectinginto one of said openings to hold a needle inserted into said oneopening, said. resilient portion having a convex back side, and a needlewith a shank having a concave groove adapted to receive said resilientportion.

2. A pickup including a chuck having a generally rectangular aperturetherethrough, the front wall of .said aperture being flat and the rearwall having a central vertical slot, needle holding structure includinga central portion extending through the aperture and cooperating withthe aperture walls to define needle shank receiving openings spacedlongitudinally of the chuck, said central portion including a resilienttongue disposed between said openings and normally projecting into oneof them, needles insertable into said openings, one of said needleshaving a circular shank with a fiat surface engageable with the fiatfront wall of the aperture and the other having a circular shank withaV-shaped groove, and said resilient tongue having a V-shaped crosssection whereby it fits into the groove in the other needle shank, and ascrew movably mounted in the chuck and engageable with the flat side ofsaid one shank forholding both needles in the chuck.

3. A pickup including a chuck having a generally rectangular aperturetherethrough, the front wall of said aperture being flat and the rearwall of which has a central vertical slot, needle holding structureincluding a central portion extending through the aperture andcooperating with the aperture walls to define needle shank receivingopenings spaced longitudinally of the chuck, said central portionincluding a resilient tongue disposed between said openings and normallyprojecting into one of them, said resilient tongue having a -shapedcross section with the apex of the v aligned with said slot, and a screwmovably mounted in the chuck for movement into one of said openingsthrough the front wall of the aperture.

4. A pickup including an apertured chuck, a needle holding and locatingelement including a central longitudinally extending portion extendingthrough the aperture and spaced from the aperture walls to provide apair of needle receiving openings, and transversely extending flanges atits ends engaging opposite sides of the exterior of the chuck forsecuring said element to the chuck and constituting stops for needlesinserted into the needle receiving openings.

5. A pickup including an apertured chuck, a needle holding elementincluding a central longitudinally extending portion extending throughthe aperture and spaced from the aperture walls to define spaced needlereceiving openings, said element having transversely extending flangesat its ends engaging opposite sides of the exterior of the chuck forsecuring said element to the chuck, and said flanges extending inopposite directions across the ends of the aperture thereby to definestops for needles inserted into the aperture from opposite sides of thechuck.

6. A pick-up including a chuck having a generally rectangular aperturetherethrough, the front wall of said aperture being flat, needle holdingstructure including a central portion extending through the aperture andcooperating with the aperture Walls to define needle shank receivingopenings spaced longitudinally of the chuck, said central portionincluding a resilient tongue disposed between said openings and normallyprojecting into one of them, needles insertable into said openings, saidresilient tongue and one of said needles having correspondingcomplementary shapes to position the needle within one of the openings,the other of said needles having a substantially circular shankincluding a flat tongue secured to said longitudinally extending"portion and extending longitudinally of the surface engageable with thefront wall of the aperture to position it in the other of said openings,and a screw movably mounted in the chuck for movement into engagementwith the fiat surface of the shank for holding the needles in the chuck.

7. A pick-up including an apertured chuck and a needle locating andholding element mounted in the aperture of said chuck, said elementincluding a longitudinally extending portion in and spaced from a wallof said aperture, a needle insertable into said chuck, flanges extendingtransversely in opposite directions at the respective ends of saidlongitudinally extending portion for engaging the chuck so as to securethe element within the aperture, at least one of said flanges engagingthe end of the needle inserted into the chuck in the space between theaperture wall and the longitudinally extending portion so as toconstitute a stop for the needle, and a resilient needle inserted intothe chuck so as to hold the needle therein.

8. A pick-up including an apertured chuck and a needle locating andholding element mounted in the aperture of said chuck, said elementincluding a longitudinally extending portion in and spaced from a wallof said aperture, a needle insertable into said chuck, flanges extendingin opposite directions at the respective ends of the longitudinallyextending portion for engaging the chuck so as to secure the elementwithin the aperture, at least one of said flanges engaging the end ofthe needle inserted into the chuck in the space between the aperturewall and the longitudinally extending portion so as to constitute a stopfor the needle, the shank of said needle having a substantially V-shapedgroove therein, a resilient tongue secured to said longitudinallyextending portion and extending longitudinally of the needle insertedinto the chuck so as to hold the needle therein, said tongue beingprovided with a substantially v-shaped surface for cooperation with thegroove in the needle to properly position the needle in the chuck.

9. A pick-up including an apertured chuck, a needle holding and locatingelement including a central longitudinally extending portion extendingthrough the aperture and spaced from the aperture walls to provide apair of needle receiving openings, transversely extending flanges atopposite ends of the longitudinally extending portion for engagingopposite sides of the exterior of the chuck to secure said element tothe chuck, each of said flanges extending over a different one of saidopenings in order to engage needles inserted into the needle receivingopenings and to constitute stops for the needles, and a resilient membersecured to said central longitudinally extending portion and extendinglongitudinally of a needle inserted into one of the openings in thechuck so as to hold the needle therein.

10. A pick-up including an apertured chuck and a needle holding andlocating element mounted in the aperture of the chuck, a needleinsertable into said aperture having a shank with a deformedlongitudinally extending surface portion, said element including aresilient tongue having a free end extending into said aperture andlongitudinally of the needle shank in order to engage the deformedsurface portion of the shank, and said tongue and said deformed surfaceportion having complementary shapes in order to position the needlewithin the aperture.

11. A pick-up including a chuck having a generally rectangular aperturetherethrou gh, the front wall of said aperture being flat, needleholding structure including a central portion extending through theaperture and cooperating with the aperture walls to define needleshankreceiving openings spaced longitudinally of the chuck, said centralportion including a resilient tongue disposed between said openings andnormally projecting into one of them, needles insertable into saidopenings, said resilient tongue and one of said needles havingcorresponding complementary shapes to position the needle within one ofthe openings, and the other of said needles having a circular shank witha hat surface engageable with the front Wall of the aperture to positionit in the other of said openings.

12. A pick-up including a chuck with an aperture extending therethrough,a needle insertable into the chuck, a needle locating element spaced Ifrom a wall of said aperture and slidably mounted therein and includinga resilient tongue-like portion having one end formed integral with saidelement, having a free end remote from said one end extending into theaperture and engageable with the side of the shank of the needle, andsaid needle locating element having a stop defining portion at one endthereof extending transversely of the element and across one end of saidaperture in order to engage the outside of the chuck and provide a stopfor the end of the needle inserted into the chuck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber Name Date Paul Dec. 3, 1918 Muller Jan. 7',- 1919 Capps Dec. 15,1931 Miller Apr. 14, 1936 Kornei June 9, 1942 Hasbrouck Aug. 10, 1943Andrews Aug. 23, 1949 Ketchum Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGreat Britain Oct. 7,, 1929 Germany Sept. 21, 1933 Great Britain Jan. 1,1947 Great Britain July 10, 1947

